The Mutual Aid LA Dispatch #9 (December)

DECEMBER 2022

Haga clic aquí para ver El Despacho de Diciembre en español.
Click here to view The December Dispatch in Spanish.

MUTUAL AID LA: GOINGS-ON

‘Tis the season many people find themselves in a giving mood. It’s also a time when people make room for new things by saying farewell to the old(er). If you’re someone that values extending the life of your used items and you’ve found a mutual aid group to donate to, read over our DOs & DO NOT DOs guide to help ensure your donation has a positive impact. These tips are coming straight from the experiences of groups and organizers across Los Angeles, from the San Fernando Valley to MacArthur Park and beyond. Let’s thank these contributors in the best possible way and follow their directions.

✅ the DOs

• DO pay close attention to what is being requested and try not to stray. If you’re stumped, reach out (via email, DM) to the group collecting and ask for clarification - sending a picture of what you have can be very helpful. DO take into consideration seasonally appropriate clothing.
• DO wash, clean, sort, fold, neatly bag, and label everything you’re donating. DO ask before leaving items at an organizer’s space, like their front door.
• DO be clear and honest in your communication with organizers.
• DO be flexible, mindful, patient and even accommodating when figuring out donation pick-ups and drop-offs. DO give more than a tiny pick-up window and DO offer to drop off the donation if you can.
• DO offer to store larger items for the group until needed if you’re able.
• DO check in with the group before purchasing new items so you can find out what items they prefer store-bought or what items they’re low on.
• DO really get into it and hold mini drives for a group requesting items. DO tap your various circles and get them into it too.
• DO make it known to neighbors, co-workers, friends and fam that you, for example, are collecting to-go utensils and bags for community fridges and food distribution projects like Produce in the Park and Free Food Collective who are always in need of bags. And wrapped utensils are always needed at the community fridges.
• DO utilize the tools at your fingertips–Buy Nothing, Marketplace, OfferUp, Freebie Stuff Alerts app–and search for or post that you’re collecting a list of specific items.

FOOD-SPECIFIC DOs

• DO read the specifications carefully when you donate food - generally donating expired items is a no-no, but some pantries have a little bit of leeway. Always check first!
• If giving a lot of perishable food to an unhoused neighbor, DO consider or ask whether they have space to store any leftovers or if they are able to consume the food before it spoils.
• At the community fridges: - DO package individual portions of food from large catering trays for safer accessibility. - DO bring utensils, especially if they’d be helpful to consume the food you’ve brought. - DO tidy up and leave things nicer than you found them. If you find food clearly past its prime in the fridge, toss it before restocking. To help keep the trash down at the fridge site, bring items with you to throw away in your bin at home. - DO learn where the next closest community fridge is in case the first fridge you stop at is full.

❌ the DO NOT DOs

• DO NOT donate items you wouldn’t be willing to wear, use or consume yourself. All of us deserve quality items, including our unhoused neighbors. No smelly, tattered or stained clothing. Cut those items up to be used as napkins or cleaning rags and nix paper towel use.
• DO NOT assume what people need. With everyone, at all times - ask what is needed.
• DO NOT donate used socks or underwear.
• DO NOT throw in random items that the group did not ask for. DO NOT underestimate the time and labor required to deal with unneeded stuff.
• DO NOT have unrealistic expectations of mutual aid groups and individuals. If you truly need the item out by tomorrow, it’s probably not going to work out. If you’re willing to hold onto it for 1-2 weeks, it's more likely someone will find, confirm and coordinate your item’s new home.
• DO NOT donate to Goodwill or Salvation Army if your items aren’t useful or timely for mutual aid groups. Instead, do a little research and go with a more ethical alternative. There are recycling programs out there like Hylo, which is for sneakers.
• DO NOT just leave items, especially food, at an encampment or unhoused person’s dwelling without permission 🧀 🐀
• DO NOT donate food that's been opened or half-eaten.
• DO NOT leave boxes or trash at the community fridges and pantries.

While donating is a super helpful thing to do during the holidays, it’s important to offer your support to groups year-round, and in more ways than one. The Dispatch and Mutual Aid LA Network are here as resources to help you find what fits. Listen, learn, practice, and kindly offer what you now know to the people in your life.

DOs and DO NOT DOs by the Los Angeles mutual aid community.
Compiled and edited by Sarah, Nicole and Erin

FEATURED EFFORT: THE VALLEY OF CHANGE

I lost count of the number of passers who greeted Latora after 15. Some were curious passers by wanting to know what she was doing and why, others were community members offering support, and a few others took selfies while delivering supplies for the following day’s meal distribution. You may have seen Latora holding a Black Lives Matter sign and flashing a peace sign at drivers on the corner of Sepulveda and Ventura (outside the Sherman Oaks Galleria) in the San Fernando Valley. She has been there every single day since Summer 2020 - to promote police accountability for the murder of George Floyd and others who experience police brutality.

Latora Green is the Co-founder/Executive Director and force behind The Valley of Change (TVOC) - a non-profit whose mission is to liberate Black people from systems of oppression and brutality. TVOC works to uplift marginalized and underserved communities by protesting police brutality and racism, distributing backpacks to children in need, organizing community clean-up days, providing lunches for unhoused neighbors, and cooking and distributing a weekly warm meal.

Latora gives these actions a unique spin by tapping into her background as an HR executive. She reaches out to educate community members (including passers-by) about systems of oppression and brutality while inviting them to participate in and stand up with TVOC. She engages with local schools– building relationships with students and their families–they assemble hygiene kits, help with the weekly warm meal distribution, and participate in community clean up days.

TVOC’s community engagement extends beyond the San Fernando Valley though, they distribute backpacks across Los Angeles neighborhoods, create a monthly Build Up Black calendar of specific actionable ways to support the Black community, and will soon unveil a community educational program empowering children, teens, and adults. TVOC’s work can be summarized simply as facilitating transformational and meaningful change by empowering, uplifting, giving, and inspiring by consistently showing up for one another and the community.

How YOU can contribute…

• STAND with the TVOC community in a collective fight for Black Lives. The group is out in front of the fountain at the Sherman Oaks Galleria several days of the week between 12-8pm. Send a DM to @theValleyofChange IG to make sure folks are there before showing up.
• GIVE FUND$ via Paypal or Donorbox to support this group’s efforts.
• FOLLOW and JOIN IN on TVOC events and actions by keeping an eye on their Twitter and subscribing to their calendar.
• VOLUNTEER at TVOC’s Feed Our Friends in Need event on Saturday, December 17th. Make sandwiches, assemble & distribute lunches, hygiene kits, and blankets.
• CONTRIBUTE hand sanitizer, wipes, gloves, masks, sunscreen, and food as an individual or restaurant by sending a message via IG or by visiting the corner of Sepulveda and Ventura to say hello to Latora in-person.
• LEARN more about TVOC by visiting their website and instagram

Written by Elizabeth who organizes with Mutual Aid LA Network

DO YOU HAVE TIME, ITEMS*, OR MONEY TO CONTRIBUTE?
DO YOU NEED ITEMS, SERVICES, OR FOOD?

*PLEASE clean, sort & fold all items you are donating. Items should be new or gently used. Socks, underwear and hygiene items should always be unused.

WHO: Sunrise Oxy
YOU HAVE: MONEY
YOU NEED: SERVICES FOOD
As part of our climate justice work we support our unhoused neighbors and help connect them to housing organizations. We also organize college students to contribute to local community fridges.
WHERE: Eagle Rock
$$$: Venmo @emgal-2

WHO: Hope Street Distro
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
Our small team distributes hot meals, water, and supplies like hygiene products and OTC meds to about 100 unhoused neighbors. If you have access to a car, DM us via IG to join the distro team - our neighbors are the sweetest, funniest, most entertaining crew and it’s a real treat to visit them! You can also host clothing and supply drives for us by putting a box at your workplace or posting on NextDoor.
WHEN: Most Sundays 12-3ish.
WHERE: South Central - Our route covers several blocks between S Hope to S Main
$$$: We are raising funds for holiday gifts, warm blankets, and gift cards for each of our approx 100 neighbors, and we need to raise about $1000 to do it. Venmo @melissa-moultonchurch and comment "hope ❤️"

WHO: West Valley Homes Yes
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES FOOD
West Valley Homes Yes is a community-based nonprofit which advocates for compassionate, just, and collaborative solutions to homelessness. We provide food, supplies and support in many forms to people experiencing homelessness. You can help by joining our lunch-making or outreach teams.
WHEN: Sundays at 1 PM
WHERE: Chatsworth-based serving the West San Fernando Valley
$$$: Please feel free to either order items from our Amazon wishlist or donate what you can to support WVHY.

WHO: City Hall sessions Los Angeles
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES FOOD
City Hall sessions of Los Angeles is a group that's dedicated to changing the world for the better. We are collecting canned goods, cosmetics, and blankets for unhoused neighbors.
WHEN: Fridays between 5-7 PM
WHERE: On the corner of 5th and San Pedro in downtown Los Angeles
$$$: You can support via Venmo: @chslosangeles or shop the Amazon wishlist

WHO: Vida Mobile Clinic
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: SERVICES
Vida Mobile Clinic is a free health clinic for uninsured people who are 18 and over, undocumented folks welcome. Clinics are open 2-3 times/month. We appreciate help with distributing our information within the communities you serve. We are actively in need of healthcare providers (MD/DO/PA/NP) to volunteer with us once a month. Our Annual Toy Drive, in which we collect new and unwrapped toys, clothing, shoes and gift cards, runs through December 10th with locations at our Granada Hills office and San Fernando mobile clinic.
WHEN: Drop-off dates are 12/2 and 12/10 between 9am and 12pm.
WHERE: Mobile clinic in the city of San Fernando and office in Granada Hills
$$$: Vida Mobile Clinic is supported by private grants and is not federally funded. You can donate on our website!

WHO: GLBMAN - Greater Long Beach Mutual Aid Network
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
GLBMAN is an alliance of anti-capitalist organizations in the Greater Long Beach area providing mutual aid for, and promoting solidarity within, our community. Click here to volunteer or request assistance or visit our linktree.
WHEN: Produce pick-up Thurs between 11:30am-6pm, compost drop-off Fri and remote phone-banking on your own time M-W. Check out the GLBMAN calendar.
WHERE: Long Beach
$$$: Support GLBMAN here. We’re also in need of baby wipes and diapers - DM us or email us vickbooz420@gmail.com to donate.

WHO: Sharing Love with Others (SLWO)
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
In addition to their weekly need for volunteers to power the Saturday meal set up, distribution and clean up, SLWO is holding a BLANKET & SOCK DRIVE thru 12/16. Get your friends and family to join in and collect gently used or new blankets and new socks. Drop off or mail to 5014 W. 112th St. in Inglewood. SLWO always accepts seasonally appropriate clothing and shoes for folks in Skid Row. Drop off @ Inglewood address in advance or to the Skid Row location during food distro. Saturday 12/17, is an extra special Christmas event that'll require reinforcement. Volunteer shifts are 9am-noon, 10am-1:30pm and 11am-3:30pm. Get in touch via sharinglovewithothers2019@yahoo.com or DM @SharingLove2019 on IG.
WHEN: Saturdays from 1-4pm, come when you can and stay until you can’t.
WHERE: 620 E. 7th St. between Crocker & San Pedro in Skid Row
$$$: Donations via Venmo: @sharinglovewithothers / Zelle: 310-340-8814 or CashApp: sharinglove2019 will allow this team to continue providing hearty, delicious, warm meals and beverages to hundreds of Skid Row residents every weekend. Blankets can be purchased via Sharing Love’s Amazon wishlist.

WHO: Food For All Pantry
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: FOOD
Food For All Pantry distributes free food to families in El Monte. Volunteers are needed for distribution. Shelf-stable food items can be dropped off at the distribution starting January 2023.
WHEN: Every third Saturday of the month
WHERE: Zamora Park, El Monte
$$$: Cashapp: $FoodForAllPantry

WHO: Trans Defense Fund LA
YOU HAVE: ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES
Trans Defense Fund LA is a mutual aid org that provides free self-defense kits and classes for trans people of color in LA. You can purchase self-defense items from this Amazon wishlist to support our work.
WHEN: Any weekday either one time or a once-a-week commitment starting November 21st.
WHERE: Northeast LA
$$$: Donate via Venmo @transdefensefundla or Cashapp $transdefensefundla

WHO: Every Day Action
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
Every Day Action reallocates gourmet meals from film sets, grocery stores and corporate functions directly to those in need, supplying shelters and community fridges. To provide this resource, drivers are needed daily, shifts ranging between 2 hours to ½ the day depending on involvement level. Drivers need to have their own car, a valid driver's license, and car insurance. You can choose the neighborhoods to which you are willing to commute! Every Day Action also builds kits for unhoused neighbors year-round. Hygiene products of all kinds (shampoo,soap) along with blankets, water bottles, protein bars, and socks are always needed. Coats and shoes are also needed.
WHERE: Greater Los Angeles - we pick up and deliver food from San Pedro to Santa Clarita.
$$$: Support Every Day Action by visiting youreverydayaction.org.

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